CNN: 877-WhyIslam Hotline Volunteer Answers Questions about Islam

081511

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KapWq0gX7d8

CNN, August 15th, 2011

You might have seen the billboards along the highway.

The Islamic Circle of North America, an organization for Muslim Americans, has put over 50 billboards across the country to advertise 877-Why-Islam – a 24/7 hotline that people can call to ask questions about the religion.

Callers will get answers from volunteer Muslim Americans answering the phone, who say they’re doing it an effort to counter anti-Muslim stereotypes and misinformation in the media.

Today on American Morning, CNN’s Carol Costello talks with Asif Mustafa, a Wall Street employee and hotline volunteer, about why he is participating.

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By Liane Membis, CNN

(CNN) – Want to learn more about Islam? There’s a hotline for that. And, through the end of the month, lots of roadside billboards to get the word out about it.

Two 48 foot-tall billboards towering over the New Jersey Turnpike bear the messages “877-Why-Islam — Get the Facts” and “Ramadan — 1.57 Billion Celebrating. Find Out Why.”

The signs are part of the Islamic Circle of North America’s 1-877-Why-Islam outreach project, established in 1999 with an eye toward educating Americans about Islam and Muslims.

The New Jersey billboards are two of more than 50 signs that are lining highways across the nation during August, as Muslims mark the holy month of Ramadan.

The Why Islam Project has also used television and newspaper ads and community booths to promote the hotline. Its website, WhyIslam.org, features information about the religion and a tool for users to arrange tours of local mosques.

Ashfaq Parkar, the coordinator of the Why Islam Project, said the hotline, which gets around 600 calls a month, is aimed at dispelling myths about Islam.

“What we are doing is trying to provide people with the means of obtaining accurate information about our religion,” Parkar said. “There are a lot of people that feel that Muslims need to step out and assure that their religion is appropriately represented. If we don’t do it, someone else will, and there’s a good chance that we will be misrepresented.”

Calls to the toll-free 24/7 hotline are answered by volunteers from the Muslim community who are concerned about the image of Islam and want to help improve relations with other Americans.

Volunteers for the hotline receive extensive training but are not required to be scholars or religious leaders.

The most frequently asked question: What does Islam say about terrorism?

Questions and calls that link the religion to violence surged after the 9/11 attacks, Parkar said.

“When we get these kind of calls some people get confrontational or angry on the phone,” Parkar said. “But we welcome that.”

“The fact they are calling and are willing to engage in discussion means something to us,” he said. “They have concerns, they want a dialogue. We listen and we give that to them.”

“We just want to educate people and show the American community that we are a community to be accepted not detested.”

The billboards will remain up until the end of the Ramadan, known for its daytime fasts, on August 29.

“It’s a time when the general community around us is curious about fasting, our religion, our beliefs,” Parkar said.

Salaamu alaikum,
I am writing to offer my input on your Why Islam campaign. I question the use of this phrase “Why Islam” in reaching out to Americans of other faiths. Christian missionaries use the same lexicon “Why Christianity?” when visiting Muslim lands. It is well understood in a religious context and is common phraseology for calling others to your faith. I imagine your billboard was intended to inspire others to ask for information not to convert. It is unfortunate that the intended message isn’t reaching the readers, and in fact, being misconstrued in a way that can cause more damage. I believe this is one of the reasons for the rabid responses you can see to the online articles about the billboards – people feel imposed upon at a minimum and threatened on another level. Please reconsider the use of this phrase in future campaigns. The use of professional advertising services might be suggested to navigate the nuances of the language to avoid undermining a campaign in unforeseen ways.

syed shah

in

Instead we can say “I am Muslim, Do you want to know Why”

http://islam-qa.com/en Maryam

The name “Why Islam” sounds just fine to me. Keep up the good work inshaAllaah :)

http://www.iacr.net AbdurRahman.

Assalam Alaikum. Mashallah !!! Allah(SWT) in His final Message says, ‘Who is better in speech than one who invites (people) to Allah and does righteous and says ” I am indeed of the muslims.” ‘[The Qur’aan 41:33]. So if we are calling people towards Allah, then we are best in the sight of the our Creator ‘Allah’. Is this certification not enough for us to start doing Da’wah ?